To Our Government: DO your JOB. You are US.

Here's a St. Petersburg Times Article comparing the TSA to the Nazi Party:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/06/Business/Comparing_TSA_to_Nazi.shtml

Good. The Press must keep the government in check. Don't use this as an excuse to hate government, however. Read On:

Here are some comments from a local blogger regarding it:
http://tampasbackdoor.blogspot.com/2008/02/sieg-heil-tsa.html

Good. Citizens should talk about this kind of stuff.

I am Familiar with the TSA. I believe all Members of the TSA should:

1. Get 'em Through efficiently.
2. Keep 'em Safe.
3. Use Professional Courtesy.

I believe that TSA Personnel who do this right, and who minimize interpersonal abrasion, are generally regarded in a positive light by the traveling public; and make their own jobs easier.

Regarding the hassle and inconvenience of airport checkpoints: we ALL could have paid more attention to our government and energy policy and foreign policy over the past couple generations, and then maybe we would not have gotten ourselves in such a mess to begin with. Like it or not, agree or disagree on the causes, flying is less safe for Americans today than it was before. Checkpoints are today a necessary evil, and as such, are inherently not profitable, and are thus naturally a public government activity.

Government employees and elected officials work for the citizens.

The U.S. Government is no place for ass-kissing, back-stabbing, people-hating, boot-licking goose-steppers. If the shoe fits, G T F O. (Git the ---- Out [and have a nice day]).

Federal government employees are required to adhere to a code of ethics:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/blethics.htm
"

CODE OF ETHICS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Any person in Government service should:

1. Put loyalty to the highest moral principals and to country above loyalty to Government persons, party, or department.

2. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion.

3. Give a full day's labor for a full day's pay; giving to the performance of his duties his earnest effort and best thought.

4. Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks accomplished.

5. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not; and never accept for himself or his family, favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties.

6. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since a Government employee has no private word which can be binding on public duty.

7. Engage in no business with the Government, either directly or indirectly which is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of his governmental duties.

8. Never use any information coming to him confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means for making private profit.

9. Expose corruption wherever discovered.

10. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public trust.

[Source: U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee]

"
http://usgovinfo.about.com/blethics.htm

We need functional government. All men are not angels. Lew Rockwell is Wrong in this regard. Government is how an organized community of human beings protects itself from crooks (like big thieving corporations, for instance). Government is how the organized community protects itself from "persons" who have been pushed over the edge into antisocial and/or violent acts, for whatever reason. Most people who won't say anything at all out loud desire and treasure order in their society, so long as that order is just. Regarding Order, Uniforms should connote order. Not Oppression.

(An Aside:)
Our Military and our Police used to have to wear Class B's (clothing that is an expression of respect for the community). That they more often nowadays can be seen in battle-garb is alarming and I think this should be changed. Battle is not cool or neat. It's when human beings kill and destroy. Walking among us clothed for that is bad.

Part of a functional government is a vibrant fourth estate (the Press). In the absence of an effective Press, governments can and do become corrupt and oppressive.

I would like to see effectively enforced legislation (maybe constitutional amendments) breaking up media monopolies and keeping the Internet neutral (no filtering by ISP's.) Sound like a tough one? Not if enough people in government take seriously their allegiance to the Constitution, which specifies protections for the Press. Not if enough citizens take seriously their allegiance to the republic for which the flag of the United States stands.

The Newspaper Article caught my notice. My gut feeling is, don't take unfair advantage of your position in order to inflict your own personal misery on others (but then this is regarding INDIVIDUAL SELF-GOVERNMENT).